Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-11-07
DIAMOND MINES.
PRECIOUS STONES FOUND IN THE
REGIONS OF GOlcONDA.

PRECIOUS SlONES FOUNO IN The
REGIONS OF GoLcoNoA.
Yield Of the Mines Of India and Of Bra
zil-Thc Famous Kimberly-New south
Wales aud Borneo-C@ylon's Valuable
Gems.
There are in India three extensive tracts,
widely separated from one another, in
which the diamond has been sought for
The name of Golconda, originally applied
10 a capital town now deserted fort in
the neighborhood Of HyderabitD. seems to
have been used for a whole kingdom; but
the town itself is many miles distant from
the nearest diamond mines, and it WAS
only the mart where the precious stones
were bought and sold. The second great
tract occupies an immense area between
the Mahanuda and the Godayery rivers;
and the third great tract is situated in
Bundelcund. near the capital of which
Punnah-some Of the mines are found.
For those content with a slowly paying
occupation and n hard life, involving close
supervision of the workers, diamond min
ing will pay, provided such persons pos
sess capital sufficient to last them few
years. The diamonds now are usually
brought from Parteal close to the south
crn portion of the Nizam's dominions
The deepest pits are not more than twelve
feet. The matrix of the diamond in those
localities is a conglomerate sandstone.
The appliances of modern machinery for
excavation, etc, directed by men of Sci
ence. mag possibly bring to light gems
that have not been discovered by the rude
native processes Of search.
II would be curious to ascertain the
yield Of diamonds in the east from those
mines in the last $50 years, and of Brazil
in the last 80 years since the discovery
there; but no such data are Obtainable,
nor indeed can any reliable estimate be
formed of the value of the diamonds
owned in different countries.
From the four principal mines in Gri-
Gualand (Which all lie within IL circle with
II diameter of three niles. calculating the
amount of diamondferous ground re-
moved and the known average yield per
load in each, it is found that not less than
~. 900 600 carats of diamonds Tor more
than IL tons weight must have been
extracted since the first discovery, realiz-
ing in round numbers $40. 0.O00,O00.
THE FAMOUS KIMBERLEY.
The yield of diamonds from The Kimber-
ley mine alone, from the opening in 1871
to the end of 1885. is stated To have en-
ceeded Il, i,i00.0 900 carats. equal to three
and one half tons weight Of precious
stones in value about 500. 200. 900. To
obtain this. as many thousand tons Of reef
and ground have had TO he eXcavated.
The mine is IJO feet deep. and the cubical
contents of this huge cavity measures
about 9.GGn, 003 cubic wards. Four thous-
and Kafiirs are employed at this mine
and more than 20,0O0 natives of Africa
arrive yearly at the mines in search OF
work: SO that the employment of native
labor and the development of native trade
are incidental benefits conferred on South
Africa by the discovery of the diamond
fields
The Dutch government are the owners
of the diamond mines IN Borneo. which
are situated in the district Of Landak in
the territory Of PonteyaIak; they are
worked by Dyaks and Malays. hut with
far superior skill by the Chinese. The
gems are found in yellow colored gravel,
at depths ranging To sixty feet. Ad-
vances are Iuadc to the miners. who are
bound to dclyl all stones at 20 per cent.
below their IN, rl.ct value.
IA -Nt" l'utu w dleS
is likely TO become Of much importance,
and the Colonists are sangune of being
able to compete with south Africa in this
trade. Twelve thousand diamonds have
been obtained up 10 the present time.
chiefly from the tertiary gravels and re-
cent drifts in the Bingera, Inverell and |
Chittagong districts. The largest dia-
mond yet found weighed 1862 grains. or !
about j 5-S carats. They are of good |
color and quality. Companies with large |
capital are forming to buy up and work |
the extensive diamond fields i'll Bngera
Other gem stones found IN that colony are |
garncts, the common emerald green |
beryh. Oriental emerald green sapphire. !
royal blue sapphire, white and pale blue |
topaz and agates.
CEYLON'S PRECIOUS STONES.
Ceylon has always had a reputation for
its richness in precious stones. Inferior /
kinds. such as the moonstone and the
garnet. are found in the beds of streams
about Handy, Newara Eleya, Badulla and
some Of tine small rivers of the south; but |
the more precious stones. such as the
ruby, the blue sapphire, the Oriental topaz
Of various yellows, the AleXandrite and
the cats eye, must be sought within q
radius of thirty or forty miles from Ratna-
pLra, the city of gems.
The search for gem stones is carried on
IL the most primitive manner in Ccylon
he soil, supposed 10 he rich in precious
: ones, is rented for an annual sum from
he government. Coolies are set TO work
o dig the earth, which is heaped up on
me side, and then washed through
rough with variously sized perforated
,inc sfDps which retain nlI STONES ,cc,r,l